John Hutton: In his statement to the House on 12 December 2007, Official Report, column 304, the Prime Minister said we shall continue to maintain a strong military force in Afghanistan. In his statement to the House yesterday, the Prime Minister recognised the hard and dangerous work being undertaken by our armed forces, and reiterated United Kingdom's objectives in Afghanistan. The next roulement of UK forces in Afghanistan will take place in April 2009. The force package that we plan to deploy will see the current lead formation, 3 Commando Brigade, Royal Marines, replaced by 19 (Light) Brigade which will command the majority of the units serving in Afghanistan. The forces deploying include:
	
		
			 9 Light Brigade Headquarters and Signal Squadron (209) 
			 Elements of 845 Naval Air Squadron 
			 Elements of 846 Naval Air Squadron 
			 Elements of 847 Naval Air Squadron 
			 The Light Dragoons 
			 40(th) Regiment Royal Artillery 
			 38 Engineer Regiment 
			 1st Battalion The Welsh Guards 
			 The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland 
			 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters) 
			 2(nd) Battalion The Rifles 
			 19 Combat Service Support Battalion 
			 29 Postal Courier and Movement Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps 
			 2 Medical Regiment 
			 4 Close Support Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers 
			 173 Provost Company Royal Military Police 
			 Elements of 2(nd) Royal Tank Regiment 
			 Elements of 5(th) Regiment Royal Artillery 
			 Elements of 12(th) Regiment Royal Artillery 
			 Elements of 19(th) Regiment Royal Artillery 
			 Elements of 32nd Regiment Royal Artillery 
			 Elements of 39th Regiment Royal Artillery 
			 Elements of 26 Engineer Regiment 
			 Elements of 33 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) 
			 Elements of 42 Engineer Regiment (Geographical) 
			 Elements of 170 (Infrastructure Support) Engineer Group 
			 Elements of 15 Field Support Squadron 
			 Elements of 7th Signal Regiment 
			 Elements of 10th Signal Regiment 
			 Elements of 14th Signals Regiment (Electronic Warfare) 
			 Elements of 21st Signal Regiment (Air Support) 
			 Elements of 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh 
			 Elements of 2nd Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles 
			 Elements of 1 Regiment, Army Air Corps 
			 Elements of 3 Regiment, Army Air Corps 
			 Elements of 4 Regiment, Army Air Corps 
			 Elements of 4 Logistic Support Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps 
			 Elements of 6 Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps 
			 Elements of 7 Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps 
			 Elements of 9 Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps 
			 Elements of 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps 
			 Elements of 17 Port and Maritime Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps 
			 Elements of 23 Pioneer Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps 
			 Elements of 24 Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps 
			 Elements of 27 Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps 
			 Elements of Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps Support Battalion 
			 Elements of 7 Air Assault Battalion Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers 
			 Elements of 104 Force Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers 
			 Elements of 101 Military Working Dog Support Unit 
			 Elements of 1 Military Intelligence Brigade 
			 Elements of the Joint Civil Military Co-operation Group (CIMIC) 
			 Elements of 148 Expeditionary Force Institute Squadron (Volunteers) The Royal Logistic Corps 
			 Elements of 51st Highland, 7th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland 
			 Elements of 4th Battalion The Mercian Regiment 
			 Elements of Joint Medical Command 
			 Elements of 2 Medical Regiment 
			 Elements of 4 Medical Regiment 
			 Elements of 202 Field Hospital (Volunteers) 
			 Elements of 225 Medical Regiment (Volunteers) 
			 Elements to man 904 Expeditionary Air Wing, Royal Air Force 
			 6 Force Protection Wing Headquarters, Royal Air Force Regiment 
			 63 Queen's Colour Squadron, Royal Air Force Regiment 
			 Elements of 12 Squadron, Royal Air Force 
			 Elements of 18 Squadron, Royal Air Force 
			 Elements of 24 Squadron, Royal Air Force 
			 Elements of 27 Squadron, Royal Air Force 
			 Elements of 30 Squadron, Royal Air Force 
			 Elements of 617 Squadron, Royal Air Force 
			 Elements of the Tactical Supply Wing, Royal Air Force 
			 Elements to man the Joint Helicopter Support Unit 
			 Elements of 1 Air Movements Wing, Royal Air Force 
			 Elements of 1 Air Control Centre, Royal Air Force 
			 Elements of 90 Signals Unit, Royal Air Force 
			 Elements of 2 Motor Transport Squadron, Royal Air Force 
			 Elements of 5001 Squadron, Royal Air Force 
			 Elements of Mobile Catering Support Unit 
			 Elements of Tactical Medical Wing 
			 Elements of Tactical Armament Squadron 
			 Elements of Tactical Imagery Intelligence Wing 
		
	
	These units represent direct replacements for previously announced deployments to Afghanistan. In addition, commanders on the ground need to retain tactical flexibility to call forward reserves on a temporary basis to meet short term operational needs. Elements of 2nd Battalion, The Princess of Wales Royal Regiment, the Theatre Reserve Battalion, are deployed or are about to be deployed in this capacity. In his statement yesterday the Prime Minister announced the approval until August, including for the period of preparation for the elections, of an increase in the number of British troops deployed to Afghanistan from just over 8,000 to around 8,300. These additional troops will come from 2nd Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and will replace equivalent forces deployed from 2nd Battalion, the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment. These forces will be building on recent security gains in central Helmand.
	Volunteer and regular members of the reserve forces will continue to deploy to Afghanistan as part of this integrated force package, and we expect to issue around 600 call-out notices to fill some 575 posts. On completion of their mobilization procedures, the reservists will undertake a period of training and, where applicable, integration with their respective receiving units. The majority will serve on operations for six or so months, although some may have shorter tours. As part of this commitment, we expect up to 15 members of the sponsored reserves to be in theatre at any one time.
	The House will also wish to be aware that 19 Light Brigade's deployment will last until October 2009. On current plans, the brigade will then be replaced by 11 Light Brigade. I shall make a further statement on the units we expect to commit from next October in due course.